Apply to the Women’s Spirituality MA or PhD Program at CIIS

Now accepting applications for the Spring 2018 Semester. Apply today!

Apply by October 15th for a chance at the $5,000 Diversity Scholarship

Priority application deadline for Spring 2018 is October 15th. We continue to accept applications on a rolling basis after October 15. In order to be eligible for consideration for the $5,000 Diversity Scholarship, however, applicants need to submit a complete application by October 15. For details on how to apply to the $5,000 Diversity Scholarship, please see bottom of the page. This $5,000 scholarship is in addition to other scholarships a student may be eligible for.

Applying to Women's Spirituality MA or PhD

The Women's Spirituality Program offers a MA and PhD. Please visit Applying to CIIS for application deadlines and other important information.

MA in Women, Gender, Spirituality, and Social Justice (WGS)

The Women, Gender, Spirituality and Social Justice master's degree is an interdisciplinary degree that integrates a number of fields in the humanities and social sciences. Applicants must meet the general admission requirements of CIIS and demonstrate the potential to be successful in this academically rigorous program.

Successful candidates for admission into this MA program typically have the following qualifications:

Click here to view MA application requirements

Degree Requirement: An undergraduate degree (BA, BS, or the equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.

Transcripts: Official transcripts from all accredited academic institutions attended within the United States. Transcripts must arrive in their official, sealed envelopes.

Autobiographical Statement: A four-to-six page (typed, double-spaced) essay focused on the values, interests, life experiences, and spiritual insights that led to your decision to apply to this program.

Goal Statement: A one-page (typed, double-spaced) statement that clearly articulates how an MA in Women, Gender, Spirituality, and Social Justice will serve your long-term personal and professional aspirations.

Academic Writing Sample: A writing sample of eight-to-ten pages (typed, double-spaced) that demonstrates your capacity to think critically and reflectively and demonstrates graduate level writing abilities. A sample that uses outside sources must include proper citations. You may submit copies of previous work, such as a recent academic paper, article, or report that reflects scholarly abilities.

Two Letters of Recommendation: Letters will be accepted from academic advisors, professors, professional supervisors, or someone able to attest to your ability to undertake the work required for your program. Recommenders should use standard business format and include full contact information-name, email, phone number, and mailing address.

Please submit all electronic materials as individual attachments (one document per submission, in .doc, or .pdf formats) to materials@ciis.edu. Supporting materials listed above may be submitted at a later time, after submitting the online application.

Doctor of Philosophy and Religion with a concentration in Women's Spirituality (WSE)

The Women's Spirituality doctoral program is located at the intersection of women's/gender studies, ethnic studies, philosophy, and religion. Applicants must meet the general admission requirements of CIIS and would ideally have an MA in one of the disciplines mentioned above. For those who do not have a background in a related field, up to 18 additional units of courses drawn from the WSE curriculum will be required, minus equivalencies. (Equivalency for university courses previously taken is determined by the WSE Admissions Committee on an individual basis.)

Successful candidates for admission into the Women's Spirituality doctoral program typically have the following qualifications:

A vision that is compatible with the program's mission

A commitment to personal and social transformation

Demonstrated ability to think critically and creatively

Respect for a diversity of viewpoints Sufficient maturity and stability to pursue independent inquiry

The ability to clearly articulate educational, professional, and research goalsStrong scholarly writing skills

The ability to identify a prospective area of specialization and/or dissertation topic that is consistent with the program's mission and resources

Click here to view PhD application requirements

Degree Requirement: A bachelor's and master's degree (or the equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.

Transcripts: Official transcripts from all accredited academic institutions attended. Transcripts must arrive in their official, sealed envelopes.

Autobiographical Statement: A four-to-six page (typed, double-spaced) essay focused on the values, interests, life experiences, and spiritual insights that led to your decision to apply to this program.

Goal Statement: A 1-2 page (typed, double-spaced) statement that clearly articulates how a PhD in our program will serve your long-term personal and professional aspirations. Please include your potential areas of research interest.

Academic Writing Sample: A writing sample of eight to ten pages (typed, double-spaced) that demonstrates your capacity to think critically and reflectively and demonstrates graduate level writing abilities. A sample that uses outside sources must include proper citations. You may submit copies of previous work, such as a recent academic paper, article, or report that reflects scholarly abilities.

Two Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation should ideally be from professors who can attest to your scholarly writing and research abilities. If you are not able to obtain two letters from faculty, one of the letters can be from an academic advisor or professional supervisor. Recommenders should use standard business format and include full contact information-name, email, phone number, and mailing address.

Please submit all electronic materials as individual attachments (one document per submission, in .doc, or .pdf formats) to materials@ciis.edu. Supporting materials listed above may be submitted at later time, after submitting the online application.

International Students

Please note: International students and individuals who have studied at institutions outside the US and Canada have additional requirements. Please see the International Student page for additional details.

$5,000 Diversity Scholarship for Spring 2018

CIIS is a university deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and advocating for social justice. The university, guided by these principles, is offering twenty $5,000 Diversity Scholarships for the academic year 2017-2018. In line with our institutional mission of embracing traditions that enhance social and political liberation, these scholarships are intended to support the recruitment of a diverse student body, particularly students historically underrepresented in higher education. Apply by November 15, 2017 for the spring 2018 semester by submitting the application below to admissions@ciis.edu. You must also submit your complete admissions application by October 15, 2017. Start the Diversity Scholarship application now!

Contact Us

If you have any additional questions about admissions, please contact our admissions counselor: